brightgull95 said:I’m not sure if they exist yet, but I do know that talking to the patient accounts for at least half the diagnosis, so: how was the suspicion of POTS even raised? Has anyone here actually undergone a tilt-table test? Or is this just what feels most likely to you personally? Does your heart start racing (for just a few seconds) immediately after changing positions—moving from lying or sitting to standing—or does it take several minutes, or perhaps much longer? Or does the tachycardia happen completely independently of body position? Was any of this tachycardia captured on a 12-lead ECG? Just some initial thoughts.
My colleagues who aren't psychiatrists might be entirely correct, and frankly, it’s good that they are. Tachycardia triggered by positional changes (which is essentially what POTS is) is merely a heart reaction caused by sympathetic stimulation, rather than an issue originating within the heart itself.
If no one has done a "tilt-table test" yet, find someone who can. If you have those results, a 12-lead ECG, and a medical history pointing toward POTS, I am happy to offer further guidance.
Thanks so much for the information.
The tachycardia subsides while I'm lying down (75-85 bpm, dropping to about 65 at night), but the moment I get up, my pulse jumps to 95-110. It stays like that all day whether I'm sitting or standing. When I'm moving around, like during a walk, my heart rate is elevated, though I don't feel it quite as intensely. My blood pressure is low; it hits 100/48 sometimes, then climbs to 100/75 once I stand up. Based on all of this, I suspect the issue lies more with the brain than the heart.
Matthew Johnson30 said:Did you check your CK, TSH, T3, T4, ALT, AST, GGT, testosterone, estrogen, prolactin, FSH, LH, or cortisol? Also, have you ever had mono? Mononucleosis can be a massive trigger for all sorts of trouble down the road.
Don't go hunting for a specific disease diagnosis; specialists tend to act like sledgehammers—they see a nail everywhere they look. Neurologists will spot Dysautonomia, endocrinologists will find thyroid issues, and cardiologists will point to heart problems. Very few doctors in the US actually possess a complete, systemic perspective on what a patient is going through.
An A+ doctor diagnosed me with Dysautonomia quite easily, though based on the treatment he prescribed, he was clearly mistaken. Now, I'm waiting on results from an incredibly thorough and expensive battery of tests ordered by a different A+ physician who is taking a completely different approach. I fear there is simply a lack of both knowledge and true understanding regarding Dysautonomia (and similar physical conditions) here in America.
I’ve had everything tested—a mountain of labs, and everything came back normal. I never had mono. Aside from two bouts of sepsis accompanied by ARDS, that's really it... Holter monitors were fine, ECG was fine, stress tests were fine, ultrasound was fine. In this country, it's generally difficult to secure a "modern" diagnosis like CFS, fibromyalgia, or Dysautonomia. Though, from what I've gathered, they seem to hand those diagnoses out much more liberally in Western Europe. Either way, you're on your own; you just have to figure out how to manage the symptoms yourself.
I won't take up too much of your time, but I was wondering if there are any specialists in the States who actually focus on diagnosing POTS, or more broadly, Dysautonomia. According to my cardiologists, my heart is perfectly fine, yet the tachycardia is absolutely ruining my quality of life, even with medication. My test results always come back looking pristine, so they just bounce me back and forth between psychiatrists and cardiologists. It’s a constant game of medical ping-pong, and frankly, I'm not getting any better.
I’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, which has forced me into a cycle of hormone therapy. For six months, I was on continuous birth control, then they switched me over to Visanne, which relies on a progesterone component. Honestly, the contraceptive phase brought every side effect imaginable—the chest pressure was particularly unbearable. Interestingly, even though I suffer from migraines, those vanished completely, though my neurologist strictly forbade me from using typical treatments for them. Since switching to Visanne, however, I feel as though I’ve hit menopause prematurely. What worries me most isn't just the physical shift, but this crushing fatigue. I can't tell if I'm sliding into depression or if this exhaustion is just a byproduct of everything else, perhaps stress. To make matters worse, I have to stay on these medications until menopause because the endometriosis is attacking my bowels—essentially causing perforations. Having barely survived two bouts of sepsis, I honestly don't know how much more of these side effects I can handle. Surgery isn't an option for me right now, either. I feel somewhat desperate, and quite irritable. Does anyone have any advice? My doctors seem to be at a loss...
The lab didn't provide reference ranges for the insulin levels, and since every lab seems to use different units—some using pmol—I'm having a bit of trouble interpreting my own numbers. Does anyone know how these look? Thanks.
I’m looking for a bit of professional insight here. A few weeks ago, I underwent laparoscopic surgery—basically some poking around my intestines—but since I know absolutely nothing about anesthesia, what happened next was terrifying. They placed a mask over my face, lifted it slightly, and then I think they injected something into my vein. Immediately after, I found myself unable to breathe; no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get air. I attempted to tell them I couldn't breathe, but while my brain was screaming it, I couldn't make a sound. I couldn't move my hands or even my pupils, and then everything went black. I have no idea what actually happened, but I am completely traumatized by it, especially since I suffer from chronic claustrophobia and a fear of choking. After the surgery itself proceeded without issue, I woke up in the ICU with an oxygen mask on my face, fully conscious. As for the moment I drifted off during anesthesia, I have no clue. Can anyone explain what was done to me?
amberbison26 said:The lab results show my CRP is 116 (normal is up to 0.6) and my white blood cell count is 15.5 (range is 4-10). It also includes a pregnancy test where the header says five, which I don't quite understand. I’m just hoping the medication helps. 😕
I’m no doctor, but that CRP is quite high. That usually points to some kind of active inflammation. What did your physician say? They clearly sent you for testing for a reason. Your white blood cell count is elevated as well; again, that suggests inflammation.
Provide some more specific details so we can see if there's an on-call physician available on the forum.
I’ve gone through this three times now. It is truly terrifying when it happens in your sleep—and I can still vividly recall the sheer horror of it. You're screaming internally, your heart is racing, you're terrified of the dark, and even though you're fully conscious of everything, you just cannot wake up. The whole ordeal lasted about ten minutes. I eventually saw my doctor, who chalked it up to stress (which was fair, considering I was going through a pretty intense period at the time). They prescribed some mild medication, and it finally stopped. Everything has settled down since then, and it hasn't happened again.
Starting a new thread. Is anyone else dealing with flu symptoms? I’m basically hovering somewhere between life and death in bed with a 103°F fever, a headache that feels like a physical assault, the shakes, having already demolished a whole box of Tylenol, insomnia, night sweats, and those deep muscle and bone aches that hit the second the temperature starts climbing.
I’m dealing with this exact same issue. As soon as the humidity spikes and the barometric pressure drops, I feel completely hungover, and there’s just nothing that can bring me back to life. Has anyone here actually tried using guarana?
Emily Chavez63 said:Help, please—I’m applying for an internship and they’re asking for Hepatitis B vaccination records, but I don't have them because I wasn't part of that specific generation. I'm 28, and since the vaccine became mandatory back in '99, I'm stuck. Does anyone know what to do? Everyone else is being incredibly difficult and nobody is giving me a straight answer 😢 feel free to DM me, I'd really appreciate it!
You aren't alone in this. I'm 30, currently doing my internship, and I've already had to take two doses myself. Since you don't have the record, here is how it works: go see your primary care physician and ask for a Hepatitis B antibody titer test—it's basically a blood test to check for immunity, which even vaccinated people need. Take the referral to a lab like Quest Diagnostics to get your blood drawn; the results should be ready in about a week. Once you have those, take the report to a local public health clinic and request the vaccination series. They will log everything in your official medical record and provide the necessary documentation. You'll likely need three doses total. That's the whole process. I went through the same panic, but it all worked out fine in the end.
I didn't reply immediately because I figured you needed an answer right away. However, even people who were vaccinated back in '99 often lack the necessary antibodies now and have to restart the series, which is common for healthcare workers. This should resolve your issue. 😢
Donna Fowler2 said:Honestly, I couldn't care less what anyone thinks; I just came here looking for some actual, sensible advice. I tried telling my mother what you all suggested, and she nearly lost it on me, claiming I was filling her head with nonsense. She even threatened to drag me straight to the ER if I brought up that episode again.
I'm fairly certain there’s no such thing as an "online" CT scanner. People have already given you their advice: go to the emergency room. There really isn't any other option besides that.
Angela Wright said:It’s starting to feel like your responses are leaning more and more toward pure trolling.☕
I’m also starting to worry that this is just trolling... because if it isn't... then we're looking at a truly dire situation for a girl who is stalling on something life-threatening.
I realize we're talking about an X-ray here. What I'm actually curious about is whether you drink the barium slurry or if they administer it via enema.
Patrick Chase9 said:Hey everyone. My Bilirubin levels have been spiking—and I mean really spiking😁(at one point it hit 80)! Dealing with yellow sclera and that yellowish tint around my eyes isn't exactly my idea of a good time (all thanks to the elevated Bilirubin) So... I'm asking for some advice on how to actually put a stop to these spikes and get back down to a normal range, obviously😁 Assuming that’s even possible at all🙄
Have you considered just asking your doctor? 🤷 Maybe try adjusting your diet, cutting out alcohol and smoking, or stopping any medications that might be taxing your liver. You should probably also get tested for hepatitis. And, if your physician clears it, you could look into taking Milk Thistle tablets. (But seriously, check with your doctor first!!!)
cosmicharbor38 said:It really is dangerous. If that’s the logic they follow—mixing aspirin with Advil and whatnot—then why on earth hasn't this Diclofenac been pulled from the shelves? It makes you wonder how much they actually care about those kinds of risks. If they truly gave a damn, they would have discontinued Pfizer ages ago, considering it failed safety trials in most parts of the world because, to put it mildly, it absolutely wrecks your kidneys.🙄
I’m not so sure about Pfizer, though I'd point to Metamizole; it's banned in most developed nations, yet somehow remains a staple in certain regions of the North America.
Jerry Booth10 said:Youth offers no immunity. There was a case where a seventeen-year-old girl passed away while waiting for a doctor because she showed up feeling unwell, only for it to be discovered later that her blood pressure was dangerously high. It is the silent killer. It wreaks havoc on your kidneys and your heart. If you aren't consistent with your medication, you're looking at a potential heart attack or a stroke. Aside from the tinnitus, other symptoms can include hand tremors, seeing spots, or even nosebleeds.
Right, because apparently, people just drop dead from ringing in their ears now. Clearly, that girl had some sort of genetic defect.
I used to get occasional ringing in my ears myself; it comes and goes. Still, it's probably worth seeing a doctor so they can send you to an ENT or maybe a neurologist.
If it’s really driving you crazy, try falling asleep with the TV or a radio on. It helps mask those "internal sounds." All things considered, you aren't going to die or end up with permanent damage. 👍